While Pipettes may seem small, they play a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy of experimental results within laboratories. Thus, it's imperative to maintain their cleanliness and sterility. This article will discuss methods to sterilize pipettors effectively.
There are two primary methods for pipette disinfection:
Chemical Disinfection: This method involves wiping the outer surface of the pipettor with alcohol and allowing it to dry. It's a simple and efficient process that can be easily performed. If a pipettor cannot be effectively sterilized through chemical disinfection, it may indicate poor material quality.
Ultraviolet Disinfection: Utilizing ultraviolet light to irradiate the surface of the pipettor damages the structure of DNA cells, thereby achieving disinfection. The duration of ultraviolet disinfection depends on the intensity of radiation and bacterial resistance to ultraviolet light. While most pipettors can be sterilized using ultraviolet light, it's advisable to confirm with the manufacturer beforehand, as not all pipettors are compatible.
In cases where pipettors cannot withstand high temperature and pressure sterilization but are required for operations like RNA extraction, cleaning the pipettor head with 75% ethanol is recommended. For RNA extraction, it's crucial to use 75% ethanol devoid of RNase contamination.
To remove DNA residue from pipettors:
1. Dilute a 10X stock solution into a 1X buffer solution.2. Submerge the inner and outer sleeves of the lower half of the pipettor in the solution and heat to 95°C for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse the sleeves with distilled water.
4. Dry the sleeves at 60°C or allow them to air dry.
5. Apply a coating of silicone oil to the piston surface and reassemble the parts.
For the preparation of the washing solution, the 10X stock solution comprises:
- 30.6g NaCl
- 39.2g Glycine
- 523mL H2O
- Addition of 1N HCl to 1000mL
In conclusion, maintaining the cleanliness and sterility of pipettors is essential for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of experimental results in laboratory settings. By employing effective sterilization methods such as chemical disinfection and ultraviolet disinfection, along with proper cleaning techniques for specific applications like RNA extraction, researchers can mitigate the risk of contamination and achieve consistent outcomes.
Additionally, the meticulous removal of DNA residue from pipettors further enhances the reliability of experimental procedures. By following the outlined steps for sterilization and utilizing the recommended washing solution, laboratories can uphold the integrity of their pipettors and optimize the quality of their research.
Chengdu Pulse Optics-tec is the best manufacturer of pipette tips, and we supply universal pipette tips and automatic pipette tips for pipettors.
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